Zero Six Bravo: The Explosive True Story of How 60 Special Forces Survived Against an Iraqi Army of 100,000, by Damien Lewis, Quercus Publishers, 2014 By Sheila Orysiek SAN DIEGO — Damien Lewis is a British author who specializes in writing about the elite special forces in various military services; those soldiers who take on […]
From the Jewish library: ‘Zero Six Bravo’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Former Skinhead Frank Meeink kept the students of San Diego’s Community Jewish High School entranced for nearly two hours Thursday evening, March 3, as he spoke of being rejected and beaten by substance-abusing parents; accepted and respected by neo-Nazis; feeling adrenaline rushes when other teenagers visibly feared
Ex- Skinhead tells of self- loathing behind his bigotry Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education
By Eva Trieger SOLANA BEACH, California- I became aware of a program recently that actually made me wish I could roll back the clock and experience the angst, pressure and confusion of being a high school junior all over again. Not because I loved that stress-packed year of SATs, college apps, peer pressure, and road
A free summer program with great Jewish books Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Eva Trieger
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyle; Random House Children’s Books/ David Fickling Books (c) 2016; ISBN 978-0-385-75107-0; 218 pages including discussion questions; $17.99 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — This novel is being brought back after a decade; its impact on its intended audience of young readers likely to be sad,
By Judy Lash Balint JERUSALEM — A sellout crowd of women packed the prestigious Jerusalem Theater a few weeks ago for, Sisters!The Daughters of Tzelofchad, the latest production of the Raise Your Spirits Theatre group. If someone just gave you a ticket without telling you the background of this all-female group of performers, you would be justified
Theatre group raises spirits of Gush Etzion residents Read More »
Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Toby Klein Greenwald
By Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO — When I covered San Diego Civic Dance Arts, I took notice of Aaron Schueler, a young hoofer with “very busy feet” who reminded me of “a little Fred Astaire.” (https://www.sdjewishworld.com/2016/02/17/67511/) Aaron is twelve years old and a sixth grader attending Albert Einstein Academy, taking classes at SDCDA after
Aaron Schueler: A spark growing into a fire Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Theatre, Film & BroadcastThe Dream of Zion: The Story of the First Zionist Congress by Lawrence J. Epstein, Rowman & Littlefield, New York; ISBN 978-1-4422-5466-5 ©2016, $36.00, p. 137, plus chronology and references. By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California — Professor emeritus Lawrence Epstein in his newest book The Dream of Zion, argues that the nineteenth-century European Enlightenment’s
‘The Dream of Zion’ focuses on the life of Herzl Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, International, Jewish History, Middle East
The Chameleon That Saved Noah’s Ark by Yael Molchadsky with illustrations by Orit Bergman; Penguin Young Readers Group/ Nancy Paulsen Books (c) 2015; ISBN 978-1-100-99676-8; 28 pages, 16.99 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –You could call this Israeli-written and illustrated book a fable, or a midrash, that utilizes the well-known biblical story of Noah
Fabled chameleons protect food supply on Noah’s Ark Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
In My Hands: Memories of a Holocaust Rescuer by Irene Gut Opdyke and Jennifer Armstrong; Penguin Random House/ Ember; (c) 1999, 2015; ISBN 978-0-679-99181-6; 278 pages including appendices, $10.99. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — This publication has reviewed, and will continue to review, numerous memoirs by Holocaust survivors. What makes this memoir different
A Righteous Gentile’s own story Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History
By Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO — Terry Miller is a teacher at the School for Creative and Performing Arts in the Paradise Hills neighborhood of San Diego. I first met Terry when she was the drama teacher at Pershing Middle School and I was a grad student at SDSU. She allowed me to workshop
How the arts will help your school child Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Cynthia Citron LOS ANGELES — In the children’s nursery song the cheese stands alone. Hi-ho the derry-o, the cheese stands alone. In the Jewish home it is the mother who often stands alone, because her children frequently see her as opinionated, pushy, stubborn, and embarrassing. As seen by those children who grow up to
‘Look at Us Now, Mother’ explores a Jewish childhood Read More »
Cynthia Citron, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
Meant To Be by Rabbi Marvin Hier; Toby Press, LLC; © 2015; ISBN 978-1-59264-389-9; 342 pages including photo sections and index; $29.95 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –This memoir tells the story of the founding of the Yeshiva University of Los Angeles, the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Moriah Pictures, and the Museums of Tolerance in
Growth of Museum of Tolerance, Moriah Pictures told Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. HarrisonBy Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO — I’ve been doing research lately on the Oscars. Although I have my favorite films, I realize that my criteria differ from the members of the Academy who not only respond to the merits of the films themselves, but to publicity campaigns waged by the studios, sentimental sympathies for popular
Baron’s picks on the day of Oscar Night Read More »
Lawrence Baron, Theatre, Film & BroadcastLife Along the Silk Road, by Susan Whitfield, 2nd edition, University Press, 2015 By Sheila Orysiek SAN DIEGO — The book opens with several explanatory sections: a “Preface to the Second Edition,” a “Note of Transliteration and Names,” an “Introduction,” a “Prologue,” and a map spread across two pages. The map is arresting. It shows
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Books, Poetry & Short Stories